Order GRAMINEiE. 
Genus Poa. 
Sub-Order Festucacea:. 
10.—POA EXIGUA. 
LITTLE POA. 
{Plate L. B.) 
Poa exigua, Hook, fil., Handb. N.Z. FI., I., 338. 
A very small tufted, glabrous, alpine grass, found at 5000—6000 feet altitude. Culms 1—inches 
high ; sheaths membranous; ligule short. Leaves involute, erect, obtuse, acicular, \—§ inch long. 
Panicle racemose, %—^ inch long, of 4—8 spikelets. Spikelets \ inch long, pale purple, 2-flowered, 
shortly pedicelled. Empty glumes 1-nerved and 3-nerved. Flowering glume roundish, with broad 
membranous margins, 5-nerved, finely scabridous, and shortly villous at base. Palea scarcely bifid, 
2-nerved. Scales oblique, obtuse. Grain stout. Distribution of Species : NEW ZEALAND. 
The above description is chiefly made from a fragment of the plant originally described and 
named by Dr. Hooker. Additional specimens of this species have been recently collected by Mr. Petrie 
on Mount Pisa, Otago, at 4000 feet altitude, which differ chiefly in larger size and more numerous 
spikelets. A short ligule is also distinctly present in the membranous sheath. Both specimens are 
figured in Plate L. In its affinity this grass approaches Poa anceps varieties, in the short villous tufts 
at the base of the flowering glume, and general facies of the plant. In its larger forms it has a very 
close growth of soft succulent leaves, arising from prostrate branches, forming a thick short sward, and 
will probably prove to be a valuable sheep-grass. Distribution in New Zealand : SOUTH 
ISLAND: LAKE DISTRICT, OTAGO (6000 feet)—Hector and Buchanan; MOUNT PISA, 
OTAGO (4000 feet)—Petrie. 
Reference to Plate L. A: Fig. 1, i'. Plants. 2. Spikelet. 3. Floret. 4, 4. Nervation of empty 
glumes. 5. Nervation of flowering glume. 6. Nervation of Palea. 7. Scale. 8,8'. Grain, front and 
side views. 
